Dispenser for coiled sheet material



Dec. 14, 1965 J. F. FULTON DISPENSER FOR COILED SHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1963 INVENTOR. JAMES F. FULTON BY &

K 7/% HIS ATTORNEYS Dec. 14, 1965 J. F. FULTON 3,222,972

DISPENSER FOR COILED SHEET MATERIAL Filed April 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES F. FULTON BY 2 I 22%,

HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,222,972 DISPENSER FOR COILED SHEET MATERIAL James F. Fulton, Mamaroneck, N.Y., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 271,285 4 (Jlaims. (Cl. 83-564) This invention relates to an improved dispenser for coiled sheet material, such as coiled metallic foil or the like, as well as to improved parts for such a dispenser or the like.

It is well known that there has been an increased usage in the home and the like for coiled sheet material, such as metallic foil, waxed paper, plastic sheet material and the like, which are normally merchandised in coiled rolled form in conventional paper-board containers that each has a tearing edge for severing a desired length of the sheet of material from the coiled roll thereof when required.

However, such prior known packaging means for such coiled sheet material is not attractive so the same must be stored in an out of the way location which is sometimes quite frustrating.

For example, the housewife may be holding several objects which she wishes to wrap with foil and the like, and must put down such objects to obtain the foil container and use both hands in severing a length thereof from the container in a rather cumbersome manner.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, an improved dispenser for such coiled sheet material is provided wherein the same is attractive in design and, therefore, need not be hidden from view whereby the dispenser is readily accessible to the housewife at the time it is needed.

Further, such a dispenser of this invention permits the user to obtain a desired length of the coiled material thereof while only using one hand, if desired, a feature heretofore unknown in the prior dispensing container art.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser for coiled sheet material or the like, the dispenser having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a dispenser or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved dispenser of this invention with the coiled sheet material thereof removed.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 with the coiled sheet material disposed in the dispenser.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates the method of severing a desired length of material from the coiled sheet material of the dispenser of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the cutting means of the dispenser of this invention.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary side view illustrating the hinge means of the dispenser of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adaptable for forming a dispenser for coiled sheet material, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention could be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other devices as desired.

3,222,972 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved dispenser of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises an open tray-like receptacle 11 for readily receiving a coiled roll of sheet material 12 in the open end thereof in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES 2 and 3.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, the tray-like receptacle 11 has a curving back wall 13 which integrally joins a substantially horizontally disposed bottom wall portion 14 at the lower end of the curving back wall 13, the bottom wall portion 14 being integrally interconnected to an upwardly and outwardly angled substantially straight portion 15 which has a reversely turned end portion 16 angling downwardly and outwardly and joined thereto by an arcuate, sheet-material guiding portion 17.

In this manner, the portions 13 and 15 of the tray-like receptacle 11 define an open ended compartment 18 to receive and contain the roll of coiled sheet material 12.

The opposed ends of the tray-like receptacle 11 are closed by like end members 19 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, each end member 19 having an outwardly directed cap-like peripheral flange 20 provided with apertures 21 in the top thereof to suspend the dispenser 10 below a horizontal supporting structure, such as a bottom wall of a kitchen cabinet or the like, by suitable threaded fastening members passing through the apertures 21 and into the supporting member. Alternately or additionally, the rear portion of the flanges 20 of the dispenser 10 have keyhole shaped apertures 22 passing therethrough to detachably mount the dispenser 10 to a horizontal supporting surface, if desired, in a conventional manner.

The front wall portion 16 of the receptacle 11 is provided with an elongated straight recess 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the recess having the opposed ends thereof terminating short of the inside surfaces of the end members 19 of the receptacle 11 for a purpose hereinafter described whereby the length of the recess 23 is slightly shorter than the normal width of the roll coiled material 12 which normally extends between the inside surfaces of the end members 19 of the receptacle 11.

A pair of hinge arms 24 are respectively and pivotally carried by the end members 19 of the receptacle 11 and have free ends 25 respectively carrying the opposed ends of a cutter guide bar 26 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cutter guide bar 26 carries a movable cutter 27 which is adapted to be manually moved along the cutter guide bar 26 between the opposed end members 19 of the receptacle 11, the cutter means 27 having a knifelike cutting member 28 adapted to be received in the recess 23 of the receptacle 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to sever a length of the material 12 from the roll thereof in a manner hereinafter described.

The arms 24 of the receptacle 11 are so constructed and arranged that the same are normally maintained in the outward pivoted position illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby the knife-like cutter 28 of the cutting means 27 is disposed spaced from the front wall portion 16 of the receptacle 11 so that the user can readily grasp the free edge of the material 12 of the roll thereof and pull the same downwardly to cause the material 12 to unroll until a desired length of the material 12 has been dispensed from the roll thereof.

Thereafter, the user merely grasps the cutter 27 by placing his fingers of one hand on each side of the handle portion 29 and pushes inwardly on the cutter 27 regardless of the position thereof on the guide bar 26 whereby the arms 24 will be pivoted inwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 so that the knife-like member 28 of the cutter 27 will punch through the sheet material 12 and be received in the recess 23.

Thereafter, the user merely moves the cutter 27 back and forth on the guide bar 26 to make sure that the cutter 28 has covered the entire length of the recess 23 to sever the sheet material 12 at the recess 23.

However, because small end bridging portions of the sheet material 12 outboard of the ends of the recess 23 are not severed by the cutter 27 in the above manner, the length of sheet material disposed below the recess 23 is still attached to the roll 12 thereof by the very narrow edge portions of the sheet of material 12 whereby the partially severed length of the sheet material 12 will not fall from the dispenser 10.

Thereafter, the user merely releases the cutter 27 whereby the arms 24, in a manner hereinafter described, pivot away from the receptacle 11 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 and the user merely grasps the free edge of the dispensed length of sheet material 12 and gives a small tug thereon whereby the unsevered bridging portions of the sheet of material will readily tear so that the cut length of the sheet material 12 will be completely severed from the roll 12.

In this manner, it can be seen that the user need only utilize one hand to dispense the desired amount of sheet material 12 from the dispenser of this invention with out requiring the two-hand dispensing operation of the prior known sheet material container severing means.

Further, the cutter means 27 of this invention automatically returns to its out of the way position after each severing operation in the above manner whereby a new length of the sheet material 12 can be dispensed from the dispenser 10 in the above manner when desired.

While the receptacle 11, cutter means 27 and cutter guide bar 26 can be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, the receptacle 11 and cutter means 27 are formed by molding a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene or the like.

When the receptacle 11 is formed of the above-men'- tioned plastic material, the arms 24 can be formed integrally with the end members 19 of the receptacle 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

In particular, each arm 24 is joined to the lower end of the peripheral flange 20 of an end member 19 by a very thin bridging portion 30.

Therefore, it can be seen that each arm 24 is integral with the receptacle 11 while still being adapted to be pivoted relative thereto through fle'Xure of the reduced bridging portion thereof. It has been found that when the aforementioned plastic material is utilized, repeated flexures of the bridging portions 30, by pivoted movement of the arms 24 toward and away from the front wall 16 of the receptacle 11 in the manner previously described, does not weaken the bridging portions 30 thereof but, in effect, actually strengthens the same without impeding the flexibility thereof.

Further, because of the natural characteristics of the material forming the bridging portions 30 of the arms 24, the bridging material 30 has a natural tendency to return the arms 24 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 after the cutter 27 has been operated in the above manner to sever a length of the material 12 from the roll thereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that the arms 24 have means to automatically tend to maintain the cutter guide bar 26 in the pivoted position illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 5 while permitting the cutter means 27 to be moved to the cutting, pivoted position illustrated in FIGURE 3 when desired.

While the cutter guide bar 26 can be formed of any suitable material and of any suitable configuration, the embodiment thereof illustrated in t e drawing is substan- 4 tially T-shaped in cross section as illustrated in FIGURE 4 and is formed of aluminum-containing metallic materia As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the opposed ends 31 of the cutter guide bar 26 have the leg 32 thereof beveled at 33 and provided with a recess 34 inboard of the respective end 31 thereof.

Each free end 25 of each arm 24 is provided with a complementary opening 35 passing therethrough to respectively snap-fittingly receive an end 31 of the cutter guide bar 27 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby an enlarged portion 36 of each arm 24 is received in the respective cutout 34 of the cutter guide bar 26 to fixedly secure the cutter guide bar 26 to the respective arm 24.

Therefore, it can be seen that the dispenser 10 of this invention is formed from only a few basic parts adapted to be assembled together in a relatively simple manner whereby the overall cost of the dispenser 10 of this invention is relatively small.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved dispenser for coiled sheet material or the like as well as improved parts for such a dispenser or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, a guide bar movably carried by said receptacle, movable cutter means carried by said guide bar, said guide bar having a T-shaped cross sectional configuration, said cutter means having a slot complementary to and receiving said guide bar, said cutter means being adapted to sever a length of said foil from said roll thereof when said guide bar is moved to one position thereof and being adapted to permit said foil to be dispensed when said guide bar is moved to another position thereof and means always tending to maintain said guide bar in said other position thereof.

2. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, a guide bar hingedly mounted to said receptacle by a pair of hinge means whereby said guide bar is pivotally movable relative to said receptacle, said hinge means always tending to maintain said guide bar in one pivoted position thereof, each of said hinge means having a free end snap fitted to an end of said guide bar, and movable cutter means carried by said guide bar and guided thereby, said cutter means being adapted to permit said foil to be dispensed from said roll thereof when said guide bar is in said one pivoted position thereof and being adapted to sever a length of said foil from said roll thereof when said guide bar is moved to another pivoted position thereof. I

3. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, a pair of arms resiliently attached to said receptacle, a guide bar attached to said arms whereby said guide bar is pivotally movable relative to said receptacle, said arms always tending to maintain said guide bar in one pivoted position relative to said receptacle, said arms being integral with said receptacle, said arms each having a reduced portion thereof to provide resilient means attaching said arms to said receptacle, and movable cutter means carried by said guide bar, said cutter means being adapted to permit said foil to be dispensed when said guide bar is moved to said one pivoted position thereof and being adapted to sever a length of said foil from said roll thereof when said guide bar is in another position thereof.

4. A dispenser for metallic foil or the like comprising a receptacle for receiving a coiled roll of said metallic foil or the like, a pair of hinge arms attached to said receptacle and having free ends, a guide bar attached to said free ends of said arms, said arms always tending to maintain said guide bar in one pivoted position thereof relative to said receptacle, and movable cutter means carried by said guide bar, said cutter means being adapted to permit said foil to be dispensed When said guide bar is moved to said one pivoted position thereof and being adapted to sever a length of said foil from said roll thereof when said guide bar is in another pivoted position thereof, said guide bar being press fitted to said free ends of said arms, said guide bar having recesses formed therein which lockingly receive portions of said arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,769 11/1876 Ferris 83-455 1,191,777 7/1916 Fishering 83-455 1,763,247 6/1930 Mendle 83-455 1,978,787 10/ 1934 Evanguelidi 83-455 6 2,190,049 2/1940 Sperry 83-455 2,393,384 1/1946 Kress 83-614 2,413,544 12/1946 Carpenter 83-455 2,586,566 2/1952 Schaldach 83-455 2,645,543 7/1953 Mancini 83-614 2,694,486 11/ 1954 Schaefer 225-89 2,823,969 2/1958 Traver et a1 83-614 3,130,620 4/1964 Smeets 83-564 3,130,622 4/1964 Eno 83-456 3,142,217 7/1964 Busse 83-455 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics Encyclopedia Issue for 1962, vol. 39, No. 1A, September 1961, N.Y., Polypropylene, pp. 269- 272.

Modern Plastics Encyclopedia Issue for 1963, vol. 40, No. 1A, September 1962, N.Y., Polypropylene, pp. 263- 269.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

HUNTER C. BOURNE, 111., Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR METALLIC FOIL OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE FOR RECEIVING A COILED ROLL OF SAID METALLIC FOIL OR THE LIKE, A GUIDE BAR MOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID RECEPTACLE, MOVABLE CUTTER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID GUIDE BAR, SAID GUIDE BAR HAVING A T-SHAPED CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION, SAID CUTTER MEANS HAVING A SLOT COMPLEMENTARY TO AND RECEIVING SAID GUIDE BAR, SAID CUTTER MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SEVER A LENGTH OF SAID FOIL FROM SAID ROLL THEREOF WHEN SAID GUIDE BAR IS MOVED TO ONE POSITION THEREOF AND BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT SAID FOIL TO BE DISPENSED WHEN SAID GUIDE BAR IS MOVED TO ANOTHER 